Photo Galleries - Patrol

Each year, about 1,100 officers participate in the Police Unity Tour, a 320-mile bicycle ride from New Jersey to D.C. during National Police Week. The ride honors fallen officers from the prior year and raises funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). Read our coverage of the unity tour.

A staple section of local newspapers has always been the short crime report items culled from the police blotter. Usually, it's a cub reporter's first job to head to the local substation to jot down pertinent details from the crime reports officers take about mostly petty crimes. Once in awhile, these young reporters submit a suggestion for a headline that squeaks by an overworked, bleary eyed editor. Sometimes, as they say, mistakes were made.

From basic training to field training, officers are told, "Watch the suspect's hands." But you are not taught how to do it. Why haven't law enforcement trainers developed an easily understandable method to teach you the specifics of hand-movement awareness? Mike "Ziggy" Siegfried explains how, and shows three scenarios – reaching for a gun, reaching for a knife, and reaching for a wallet to show ID. Also, please view "How to Watch the Hands" for an in-depth article on this topic.

What should you consider when looking at outerwear for duty or most any foul weather? First, versatility. Because quality outerwear is expensive, it needs to serve for at least three seasons out of the year. The second item to consider is whether the outer jacket is truly waterproof or just water resistant; there is nothing worse than being cold and wet. Last is the price. If the clothing breaks the bank it will cause issues.

Discovery's Planet Green channel will feature the officers of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in a new reality show scheduled to air beginning Jan. 8. "Operation Wild" follows the duties of officers who enforce the state's wildlife and boating laws. The show will air at 10 p.m. Eastern on Fridays.

Nearly 20,000 officers from Washington state, the nation, and Canada gathered at the Tacoma Dome to pay homage to the service of the four Lakewood Police Department officers who were killed in a coffeeshop in late November, before their shift. The memorial service featured tributes to Sgt. Mark Renninger, Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens, and Greg Richards. The officers were remembered for their commitment to public service.

In his movies, Steven Seagal usually plays a special agent or cop with martial-arts skills who, when pushed to the edge by baddies, responds with deadly force. Turns out, Seagal knows more about law enforcement that we thought. For the past two decades, he's been working as a fully commissioned deputy with the Jefferson Parish (La.) Sheriff's Office. Here are a few images from his new police reality show, "Steven Seagal: Lawman," which debuts Dec. 2 on A&E. Images courtesy of A&E.

A good duty light should be easily carried on a duty belt, provide adequate illumination up to 50 yards away, and be long enough that it protrudes from both sides of a fist so the light can act as a last-ditch impact weapon. The light should also be able to be used in conjunction with a sidearm in the Harries or Rogers technique. Xenon bulbs put out a tight beam and mega amounts of lumens; but they eat batteries and the lamp assemblies are expensive when you need a new bulb. LEDs, on the other hand, are rapidly approaching the light output of xenon at 50 yards or so. These models became available in 2009.

You might not be Cinderella or even Prince Charming, but you deserve a pair of boots that meets your finicky standards. Good looks are only part of the criteria that need to be met. Your boots should provide proper fit, comfort, and durability, in addition to any other personal preferences. New footwear styles for patrol include such features as side zippers, new waterproofing technologies, and improved shock absorption, not to mention good-looking designs.

Some officers don't give patrol gloves a second thought. It's time that you did. Gloving up can mean much more than protecting yourself from inclement weather. Today's patrol gloves can also protect against microbes, bacteria, blood-borne pathogens, needles, and even knives. They can help you scale chain-link fences, keep your extremities warm, and give you a better grip when you need it.